Separator for cotton-ginning mechanism.



c. c. BROOME. SEPARATOR FOR COTTON GINNING MECHANISM.

APPLICATIION FILED MAY 20. 1915.

1,159,168. Patented 1w; 2, 1915.

onnrs'rornnn c'. BROOME, 01* MACON, GEORGIA.

SEP ARATOR FOR-COTTON-GINNING MECHANISM.

Application filed May 20,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER C. BROOME, a citizen of the United States, residing at Macon, in the county of Bibb and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Separators for Cotton-Grinning Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cotton ginning machinery and particularly to separators for cotton elevators, and the primary object of the same is to provide improved means adapted to be interposed between the inlet of a cotton elevator and a gin, or the feeder of a gin, for separating stones, nails and other heavy and foreign objects from cotton as the latter passes through the elevator to a gin or gin feeder so that'all foreign matter in the cotton will be liberated and removed therefrom prior to the delivery of the cotton to the gin, gin feeder or cleaner interosed between the gin and elevator and havmg the usual function and thereby avoid injury to the saws or ginning devices by delivering the cotton to the gins in a practically clean condition and as a consequence increase the capacity of a gin output with a better sample or grade of gin cotton.

With these and other objects and advantages in View the invention'consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts which constitute an improvement on the device disclosed by my rior Patent No.- 1,002,131, dated August 29, 1911, and hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved separator or eliminator. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail enlarged section showing one of the automatically operatin valves at the bottom of the collecting c amber or' repository for theforei matter eliminated from the cotton. F1g. 4 is a detail horizontal section on an enlarged scale particularly showing a deflector attachment and the means for operating the same.

As disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,002,131, the improved separator or eliminator is adapted to be disposed in a gin house in connection with any form of gin or battery of gins equipped with the usual attachments and cleaners or other devices now commonly employed, and the improved Specification of Letters Patent.

1915. Serial No. 29,374. I

separator is' also interposed between the gin or battery of gins and the well known form of pneumatic elevator arranged to take seed or other cotton directly from a wagon or from any supply means with Which it is placed in operative relation. The present improvement is confined solely to a novel form of separator or eliminator which, as above noted, is interposed between the exterior inlet or feed extremity of the usual pneumatic elevator. and the feeder or cleaner of a gin or battery of gins, but it will be understood that the improved separator or eliminator may be disposed in any other osition that may be desired and in which 1t will effectively perform. its function.

The improved separator 0r eliminator comprises a body 11 approximately of Y- Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

shaped form having upwardly and outwardly extending conduits 12 and 13 which are regularly curved at their point of juncture with the main portion of the body 11. The pneumatic elevator or cotton conveying means has extremities attached to the conduits 12 and 13, as at 14 and 15, the conduit 12 constituting the inlet to the separator .or eliminator and the conduit 13 the outlet thereof, as clearly indicated by Fig. 2. The top walls 16 and 17 of the conduits 12 and 13 converge and unite at a point sufficiently below the horizontal portion of each .of the said top Walls and far enough above the bottom 18 of the body 11 to render the separation of the heavier particles or devices from the seed cotton passing into the separator practically effective, a chamber 19 which serves as a collecting or repository means being provided in the depending portion of the body, the lower walls of the conduits 12 and 13 gradually curving into the end Walls of the said chamber. is elevated above the outlet conduit 13 suf- The inlet conduit 12.

ficiently to cause the cotton entering the said inlet conduit to retain a position in the air current that will force the cotton to strike the bafiie plates 20 secured against the innor side of the curved portion of the lower Wall of the conduit 13 or on the under throat of this outlet conduit. The elevation of the inlet conduit 12 above the outlet conduit 13' inlet and outlet conduits are on the same I level or practically longitudinally alined, the,

intersection of the upper walls is necessarily so low as to cause the air currents carrying the cotton to dip very materially into the receptacle which is disposed centrally below the points of intersection of the upper walls of theconduits of the patented device. This dip of the intersecting upper walls of the conduits required the cotton laden air currents to have more resistance-in passing to the outlet conduit, and the battles on the lower wall of the outlet conduit of the patented device were required to be set very low, one of said baflies'being within the main receptacle and out of efiectivegeach or contact with relation to the cotton laden air currents. In the present improved structure the elevation of the'inlet conduit above the outlet conduit permits the baflies20 to be disposed on the lower wall 13 of'the outlet conduit at a point where they-will be effective in performing their function, and, moreover, there will be less resistance to the passage of the cotton laden air currents from the inlet conduit overthe receptacle 19 and into the outlet conduit, and dirt and other material and devices that may be carried with the cotton laden air currents are more effectively separated from th cotton and caused to fall into the said receptacle. This elevation of the inlet conduit above the outlet conduit is also materially 'efl'ectivein simplifying the structure of the improved device relatively to that disclosed by my prior patent with an increased advantage in the operation of separating dirt from or cleaning the cotton passing through the separator. The point of intersection of the curved portions of the top walls 16 and 17 is also in the present instance out of center with relation to the chamber 19 or is disposed beyond the center of the separator as.

a whole to also assist in directingthe cotton in the air current to strike the baffle plates 20 so as to more efl'ectively separate the foreign matter from the cotton. The inner side of the top curved wall 16 of the inlet conduit 12 is also provided with bafile plates 21 which also assist in deflecting the cotton downwardly and in separating the foreign particles or devices from the cotton while in transit toward the baflies 20. In the inlet conduit 12 below the baflies 21 and on the lower wall of said conduit adjacent to the point of continuance of the said lower wall into the one end wall'of the chamber '19, an adjustable deflector 22 is mounted, said defiector preferably consisting of a metal plate extending across the conduit, as shown by Fig; 4, and operating to defiect the air current with the cotton toward the baffles 20, thereby assuring a better separation of foreign matter from the cotton. The deflector 22 is fulcrumed in the opposite sides of the casing, as at 23, and thereunder and extending transversely through the sides 5 of the conduit 12 is ashaft 24 having crank arms 25 thereon at intervals which are in engagement with the underside of the deflector, the one end of the shaft exteriorof the conduit having a crank handle or operating arm' 26 -mounted thereon and provided with a tooth 27 to engage a toothed sector 28 and by .the sector 28.

The deflector is adjusted in accordance with the character of the cotton passing into the separator or eliminator, and when damp cotton is introduced therein it is necessary i to elevate the deflector 22, the more moist I the cotton is, the greater the elevation of the said deflector. It is obvious that dry cotton being much lighter will naturally stay in ,the air and strike higher relatively to the lower wall of the outlet conduit 13 than wet cotton, which is much heavier, and hence the deflector by its elevation throws the damp cotton high enough to strike the wall or under throat of the outlet deflector at a proper point for reliably separating foreign matter from the cotton and causing a continuous flow of the cotton outwardly through the said outlet conduit. v

The chamber 19 is of such depth and cabeen separated or eliminated to pass from Q the conduit 12 over into and through the conduit 13 and also to practically serve as a collecting or repository chamber. The upper portion of thebody of theSeparatOr or eliminator is also provided with a sight opening having a transparent covering 29 to permit inspection of the interior of the improved device, and at'the bottom of one side of the chamber 19 is a simple form of outlet slide door 30 by means of which the chamber may-be relieved of the foreign matter deposited therein. One of the most important improvements in the present instance is the provision in connection with construction of the chamber 19. The screws 36 are so disposed that they may be adjusted 1115 the bottom 18 of the chamber 19 of opposed of the elevator has an intermittent action to allow the cotton to drop by gravity at in tervals into the gin or gins with which the elevator is associated. and during the intermissions that the suction is temporarily checked the valves 31 and 32 will open and the cotton that may be in'the separator over the chamber 19 will settle into the latter above the foreign material that may have been collected or deposited in said chamber, and as the collection of this foreign material is not so compact as to prevent suction acting on the valves 31 and 32 to close the latter there will be no obstruction to the continuous operation of the separator or eliminator as desired. After the temporary cut-off of the suction or when the cotton is again moved through the pneumatic elevator. air rushes into the chamber19 through the open valves and picks up the cotton that has been deposited in the chamber 19 and takes it up to the point of separation or over and in contact with the baffles 20 and thence intothe outlet conduit 13 and onto the gin or gins. and this intermittent cessation of the suction will render the gravitation of foreign matter carried with cotton into the separator exceptionally effective and in addition all heavy trash, sand and immature cotton bolls will also be separated from the cotton and remain in the chamber 19 and readily removable through the slide door 30 when the chamber becomes Well 'filled. After the cotton starts to move upwardly from the chamber 19 when the suction again becomes effective in the pneumatic line, the valves 31 and 32 instantly close and the suction then becomes operative through the,

usual suction pipe that may be disposed over the wagon or at any other point where the cotton is stored, and the cotton is thereby regularly conveyed to and through the separator or eliminator and then into the gin or gins.

The improved separator or eliminator as herein disclosed will serve as an eflective auxiliary to cotton ginning machinery by reason of the positive removal of the heavier substances or foreign matter that may be carried into the pneumatic elevator with the seed cotton, and thus injury to the saws or ginning devices is prevented and as'a consequence the output of the gin or gins is increased and a materially better grade of ginned cotton is produced.

It is obvious that any suitable materials may be used in the construction of the improved device, but it is preferred that the upper and lower walls of the conduits 12 and 13 and the corresponding end walls of the chamber 19 be of metal of suitable thickness to resist wear and render the improved device strong and durable.

From the foregoing it will be seen that all foreign material and devices, especially of the coarser character, are separated fro-1n the seed cotton by means of an open chamber through gravitation and in conjunction with diverging conduits and without the use of slats, wire screens, metal fingers or any other device or structure between the suc-. tion line and the collecting or depositing chamber. Moreover, the area of the collectin'g 0r depositing chamber or what may be termed the intermediate pocket is larger than the suction pipe, thereby admit-ting any matter that will enter the suction pipe in contradistinction o the disadvantages incident to that class of separators embodying small spaces. between finger-board plates, wire screens, etc. The admission of air in an automatic manner to the collecting chamber or intermediate pocket as hereinbefore explained is alsoa very important feature in the present improvement as the separation is more effective byreason of such automatic operation.

What is claimed is: j

1. The combination with pneumatic conveying means for cotton, of a separator having an intermediate chamber with upwardly and outwardly extending inlet and outlet conduits at all times in full open communication therewith and terminally connected to the said conveying means, the inlet conduit being at a higher elevation than the outlet conduit to cause the cotton entering the in let conduit to strike the lower wall of the outlet conduit at a point to effect a practical separation of foreign substances and devices from the cotton, baffle devices on the upper Wall of the inlet conduit and on the lower wall of the outlet conduit above the said chamber, and an adjustable deflector mounted on the inner portion of the lower wall of the inlet conduit.

2. The combination with pneumatic conveying means for cotton, of aseparator having an intermediate chamber with upwardly and outwardly extending inlet and outlet conduits terminally connected to the said conveying means and fully opening into the said chamber, the inlet conduit being at a higher elevation than the outlet conduit and the upper walls of both conduits curving inwardly and downwardly and intersecting at a point out of center with relation to the said intermediate chamber, baffle devices secured on the upper wall of the inlet conduit in advance of the point of intersection of saidwall with the upper wall of the outlet conduit, and other baflie devices on the lower wall of the outlet conduit above the inter- 1% I h A intersecting point of the upper walls of the I inlet and outlet conduits.

said chamber, the inlet conduit bein higher elevation than the outlet conduit and 8. The combination with pneumatic conveying means for cotton, of a separator having an intermediate chamber with upwardly and outwardly extending inlet and outlet conduits terminally connected to said conveying means and fully opening into the at a the upper walls of both conduits extending downwardlv in curved planes and intersecting at a point out of center with relation to said chamber to cause the cotton in the air current coming through theinlet conduit to be directed against a portion of the lower wall of the outlet conduit above the chamber, bafile devices on the upper wall of the i let conduit in advance of the point of intersection of said wall with the upper wall of the outlet conduit, other baflle devices on the lower wall of the outlet conduit, above the chamber, and an adjustable deflector at the inner portion of the lower wall of the inlet conduit at a point below the baffle devices on the upper wall of the same conduit for regulating the throw of the cotton over the chamber against the said bafile devices on the lower wall of the outlet.

4. The combination with pneumatic conveying means for cotton, of a separatorhaving an intermediate chamber with'upwardly and outwardly extending inlet and outlet conduits terminally connected to said conveying means and fully opening into the said chamber, and a fiat deflector at the inner lower portion of the inlet conduit adjacent to one end wall of, the chamber and provided with adjustable means for regulating the magma throw of the cotton over the chamber against the lower wall of the outlet conduit ad] acent to the opposite end wall of the chamber in accordance with the dry or moist characterportion of the lower wall of the inlet conduit to cause the cotton to be thrown over the said chamber.

6. The combination with pnuematic conveying means for cotton, of a separator having an intermediate chamber with upwardly and outwardly extending inlet and outlet conduits terminally connected to said 0011- veying means and also "fully opening into the chamber, the lower portion of the chamber being provided with opposed valve openings, and valves movably mounted in relation to said valve openings and automatically'operated by the suction in the conveying means and separator to close the same, the valves having a self-opening movementwhen the suction is intermitted in the conveying means and separator.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHRISTOPHER C. BRQOME.

Witnesses:

M. C. Jones, K. BURNS. 

